At least 17 people, including 12 soldiers and five civilians, have been killed following an attack by heavily armed bandits on a military base in Bindin village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Two soldiers were also reportedly abducted during the attack, while the assailants allegedly escaped with weapons and other military equipment.
The attack occurred on Tuesday when the bandits, said to be riding motorcycles in large numbers, stormed the troops’ location and opened fire.
A resident of the area, Mukhtar, said the attack was believed to be a reprisal for the killing of a bandit who had attempted to attack artisanal miners in the area on Monday.
According to him, the bandit was overpowered and killed by the miners, who also seized his AK-47 rifle.
The source said the subsequent attack on the military position was allegedly led by notorious bandit kingpin, Gwaska Dankarami.
He said the troops engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle that lasted for several hours but were eventually overwhelmed by the superior number of the bandits.
The resident said 12 soldiers were killed during the encounter, while two others were captured and taken away by the attackers.
He added that the bandits also seized weapons and other military equipment before fleeing the area.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Nigerian Army under Operation Fansan Yamma in Gusau were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The attack comes amid persistent security challenges in parts of Zamfara State, where armed groups have continued to carry out attacks, abductions and other criminal activities.
Security agencies are expected to intensify efforts to track down the perpetrators and rescue the abducted soldiers.
